Venezuela Rocked by Back-to-Back Earthquakes, Magnitude 7.5 and 7.2

Venezuela Rocked by Back-to-Back Earthquakes, Magnitude 7.5 and 7.2

There was a series of significant seismic events that rocked various sites throughout the world today.

The first quakes of note just occurred in Venezuela, which was hit by two significant earthquakes, causing widespread damage.  The likelihood of significant numbers of injuries and deaths from these shakers is high.

A foreshock with a magnitude of 7.2 occurred near San Felipe just after 6:04 p.m. ET. It was followed by a larger 7.5 magnitude quake just 40 seconds later some 23 kilometers southeast of Yumare.

The US Geological Survey said high casualties and extensive damage are probable.

Hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter, according to the US Tsunami Warning Centers. A previous tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands has been canceled.

In the capital Caracas, about 300 kilometers away from the quake’s epicenter, videos geolocated by CNN showed a collapsed building, damaged structures with missing walls and dust covering some neighborhoods.

Massive destruction in Venezuela after tonight’s 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

The death toll will likely be high as a large number of large buildings have collapsed pic.twitter.com/gGHNl1SpaM

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 24, 2026

The stronger quake was the largest to hit the country since 1900. The devastation has the potential to be vast.

This is bad. It was not one but a pair of massive earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela in quick succession. Magnitude 7.2 ENE of San Felipe, and then 7.5 SE of Yumare.

The USGS is estimating 10,000-100,000 fatalities, and economic damages totaling 2-20% the GDP of… https://t.co/EnOuEzDSk5 pic.twitter.com/nHcVythaGY

— Backpirch Weather (@BackpirchCrew) June 25, 2026

Prayers for relief and recovery are on their way.

Nuestro corazón está con el pueblo de Venezuela en estos momentos difíciles. Les enviamos toda nuestra solidaridad y nuestras oraciones.

Fuerza Venezuela 🇻🇪

— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) June 25, 2026

Meanwhile, a moderate earthquake struck Northern California in an area that had not had one since 1940. Injuries were reported, as well as a temporary power outage.

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook Northern California on Wednesday morning, knocking out power to thousands in Mendocino County and sending items plunging off store shelves. Officials said some injuries were reported.

A ShakeAlert notification went off on many people’s phones, alerting them to a magnitude 6.0 tremor reported near Willits at 8:10 a.m. As of 8:16 a.m., USGS downgraded the strength of the shake to 5.6, about 6.8 miles north of Redwood Valley. According to USGS, the quake had a depth of about 5 miles.

The Mendocino County Executive Office said some injuries were reported, but no deaths. The office also said there are no known major damages.

PG&E said 10,000 utility customers lost power in Mendocino County. Power had been restored to about half of the customers by 4 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO — A rural area of Northern California experienced its strongest earthquake since 1940 on Wednesday morning, causing some injuries but no immediate reports of major damage, officials said.

READ: https://t.co/333NSLYy09 pic.twitter.com/qloKVlv3tn

— The Manila Times (@TheManilaTimes) June 24, 2026

The size of the quake was a bit surprising, as the region is not on a major fault.

This was the biggest earthquake in nearly nine decades in the region, which is not on a major fault, said Lucy Jones, a veteran California seismologist.

“The area is not without earthquakes, but they’re usually smaller than this,” Jones said. She added that aftershocks are likely, but they’ll “probably stay on the low side.”

Finally, a strong earthquake just struck off Japan’s northern coast.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and occurred off the eastern coast of Iwate, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The quake had a depth of about 50 kilometers (30 miles), it said. The U.S. Geological Survey also reported a magnitude of 6.9.

The rattling occurred in the area where strong earthquakes have repeatedly been reported in recent months, including one that triggered a weeklong mega-quake caution advisory in December.

The quake, which struck Japan’s northeastern region during Thursday’s morning rush hour, also mildly shook Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, according to top government spokesperson Minoru Kihara.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo that her government’s emergency team is “putting people’s lives first,” while assessing information and preparing for relief operations, if needed. She urged residents in the affected regions to use caution against possible aftershocks.

#BREAKINGNEWS: A powerful earthquake struck off Japan's northern coast on Thursday, the meteorological agency said.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and occurred off the eastern coast of Iwate, but there is no danger of a tsunami, the Japan Meteorological Agency… pic.twitter.com/ewsz6uOAU0

— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 24, 2026

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